Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971) - full transcript

(FOOTSTEPS)

(BIRDS SCREECHING)

Yet, O Lord God
most Holy,
O Lord most mighty,

O Holy and most
merciful savior,

deliver us not into
the bitter pains
of eternal death.

For as much as it hath
pleased Almighty God
of His great mercy

to take unto himself,
the soul of our dear brother
here departed,

we therefore
commit his body
to the ground.

Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes,
dust to dust.

HEADMASTER: Although Chantry
is an old foundation,

I think you'll find it, er,
very much up-to-date.



Small, of course,
only three hundred boys
but, er,

all the more compact.

Laboratories,
playing fields.

Do you play any games,
Mr. Ebony?

I have tennis and
a little hockey,
Headmaster.

Ah, there's the
new building,

but, of course,
the Lower Five B

spends most of its time
in the old school.

Lower Five B, that's
my form, is it?

Uh, for the rest
of the term, yes.

You'll find they need
a firm hand, they're at
an awkward stage.

Pelham always had them
well under control.

Pelham, he was my
predecessor, was he?

Yes.



HEADMASTER:
Oh, this is the
Assistant Masters' wing.

But you, of course,
are married.

On the whole,
we have very few
married masters here

so, naturally, there's
very little in the way of
accommodation for them.

But I understand that
the Bursar has placed
you and your wife

in the old cottage.

Yes, yes, we're
most grateful.

Mmm. Well, you must
bring your wife up to
dinner one night

after you've settled in.

Pelham had the cottage
before you, I daresay he
left it neat enough.

Pelham was married then?

No.
Oh.

Morning, sir.
Sir.

I'm glad the cottage
is so near to the school.

I'm very anxious
to become part
of Chantry School.

Dr. Samuel Godolphin,
a great man.

"Docilitatis proles
auctoritas."

"Authority is the
child of obedience."

His motto.

Yes, he made Chantry
what it is today.

Oh, Mr. Farthingale.
Headmaster.

This is Mr. Ebony,
who's come to take
Mr. Pelham's place

for the remainder
of the term.

Cary Farthingale,
who teaches art.

And third form French.
How do you do?

Oh, are you busy?

Er, no.

Ah, then perhaps
you wouldn't mind

showing Mr. Ebony round
the rest of the school.

A pleasure.

I'll see you later,
Ebony, at 2:30.

We'll go over your
time-table together.

Thank you very much
indeed, Headmaster.

Good.

It must be a peculiar
knack that only
headmasters possess,

always finding a chap
when he's idle.

Whenever I want to
make use of anybody,
they're always busy.

Oh, I dare say I could
find my own way around
if you...

No, you need an experienced
guide. Come on, we'll go
through the new school so...

Thank you.

MASTER 1: The style
of writing in this is remote.

He's concerned only slightly
about his characters.

MASTER 2: The Petition
of Right, Flidger?

FLIDGER: Don't know, sir.

MASTER 3: ... autumni frigore
primo lapsa cadunt
folia trans pontium fugat.

MASTER 2: Anyone. Simmons?

SIMMONS: 1603, sir.

The Petition of Right
was 1628.

16?
ALL: 28.

16?
ALL: 28.

16?
ALL: 28.

...there are down in
hell, tot milia
formosarum,

many thousands
of beautiful women.

As one day, Foxwell,
you'll find out for
yourself.

(BOYS CHUCKLE)

There are no beautiful
women in this hell,
I'll tell you that.

Sounds just like
my old school.

We'll go on to
Lower Five B now.

Lucky you've only got
half a term to do.

Well, I'm rather
hoping to stay on.

Mad. Is there nothing
else you can do?

Well, I've just done
three years in advertising,
that's mad as you like.

I've always wanted to
come to a place like this.

Ah, the knight
errant fantasy.

What's that?
What you are.

A chap who rides out
of the real world in
search of fairy castles

and finds a desolate tower
at the arse-end of nowhere.

You don't like
this place, do you?
Why not?

(RINGING)

It's not desolate,
at any rate.

What?

I said it's not
desolate at any rate.

Only for the spirit.

(DOORS SLAMMING)

Winstanley.
What is known as the
best type of master.

Senior classics.

Teaches the older men.

Men?

Oh, there are no boys
at this school.

They call themselves men
and they insist upon it.

Why not?
They think like men,
talk like men.

There we are...

They even smell like men.

So this is mine, is it?

Lower Five B, all yours.

I daresay there are
a few of Pelham's
things in the desk

but his heirs won't
grudge them to you.

What did he die of?

An accident, last week.

Went for a walk, sea mist
came down, went too near
the edge of the cliff,

fell over.

What a terrible thing.

Or a merciful release.

Was he ill?

No, just sick
of Lower Five B.

God, are they
as bad as that?

This form is
a kind of filter.

You either have
clever, small boys
on the way through

or very stupid
older ones

waiting for their parents
to realize that they're
wasting their money.

It's not a happy mixture.

(BELL RINGING)

Feeding time
at the zoo, come on.

Did you ever wonder,
as a boy,

what delicious things
the staff were eating?

Yes, yes,
I suppose I did.

Well, now you're
going to find out.

(CLANGING)

MASTER: Benedic domine nobis
et hic donis tuis.

ALL: Amen.

Sorry we're late,
Mr. Winstanley.

I'd like you to meet
Mr. Ebony.

John Ebony.
The new warder.

Glad to meet you,
Mr. er...

Ebony, John Ebony.

Ebony.

Fashioned from the finest
Aberdeen granite, and
guaranteed to live forever.

Um, gentlemen, this is
Mr. John Ebony,

Messrs. Clackworth,
Stretton and Blisterine.

Hello.
How do you do?

A good day, Harry?
We watched you at work.

Oh, yes?

You too, Stretton.

I appear to have
survived it.

One of the damned.

He loves literature
but hates teaching.

That's a pity. I want to
teach more than anything
else in the world.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

HEADMASTER: Lipstrob, Muffett,
Munn, Orris, Root, Terhew,
Trimble,

Unman, Wittering and
Zigo, who is absent.

There, that is your list,
Mr. Ebony. Your first
period is at 9:00 tomorrow.

History,
followed by Latin and
English and, uh, so on.

Oh, I should perhaps
explain that the
Assistant Science Master

is unwell this week and
so you will also have to take
Lower Five B for chemistry.

Oh, uh, oh, I didn't
realize I'd be...

Your reference specifies
a knowledge of science up
to O Level.

Oh, yes, yes. No...
Ah, good.

Uh, is there anything
special I should know
about them?

No, no, there shouldn't
be any problem.

Uh, if you do have any
difficulty which you
can't deal with,

just, uh,
send the boy to me.

Now, I expect you'd like
to get back to the
cottage to help your wife.

Yes. Thank you very much
indeed, Headmaster.
Hmm.

Now, if I can be
of any assistance,
just let me know.

(DOOR OPENING)

Silvia?
Yes?

Hello, love.
How was it?
Fine.

Oh, the garage just phoned.
The car's going to be out of
action for at least two weeks.

Well, thank heavens for
the Bursar's donation
of his bicycle, then.

Well, at least there's
a bit more space now.

I've put the worst
of the junk out
in the shed.

I'll go in to town
tomorrow and look
for some furniture.

Hmm. Pelham didn't
exactly live in the lap
of luxury, did he?

Pelham?
The man who was
here before.

Well, if he can manage,
I'm sure we can.

Oh, I'll get it sorted out.
Anyway you'll be up at the
school all day.

I thought I'd try
to get a job.

A job?
What kind of job?

Oh, I don't know.

But I'll get this place
into shape before
I start anything.

There must be
something I can do.

Mmm. Thank you.

Anything the matter?

No, not really.

A new boy at
the school.

It's a bit stuffy.

Strange.

Well, it's bound
to be a bit strange

starting a new job
and a new career
at the same time.

Anyway, this kind of
school is a very good
start.

Are you teaching
chemistry?
Mmm.

Your subject's
English.

Well, I teach other
subjects as well.
There's a shortage of staff.

Oh.
I've got my own form,
you know.

(CHUCKLING) Good.

Aggeridge,
Ankerton, Borby,
what's that?

Well, that's it, my form,
Lower Five B.

Bungabine, Cloistermouth,
Cuthbun.

EBONY: Hogg.
Here, sir.

Lipstrob.
Sir.

Muffett.
Here, sir.

Munn.
Here, sir.

Orris.
Sir.

Root.
Here, sir.

Terhew.
Please, sir.

Yes, uh, your name is...

Uh, Cuthbun, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, Cuthbun?

Well, Mr. Pelham used to
make a joke there, sir.

He used to call them both
out together, Orris Root,
you know.

They use it for
scenting soap, sir.

And we used to answer
together, sir, Root and
me.

Root and I.
And we all laughed, sir.
Haw, haw, haw.

All right, that'll do.
You're, um...
ALL: Bungabine, sir.

Bungabine. And look, you don't
need to stand up every time
you talk to me, all right?

But, sir, it's a rule, sir.

Whenever we speak to a
master we're meant to
stand up first, sir.

Uh, to show respect, sir.

Well, just the same,
stay sitting from now on,
all right. All of you.

ALL: Sir.
Good.

Terhew.
Sir.

Trimble.
Here, sir.

Unman.
Here, sir.

Wittering.
Here, sir.

And Zigo.
ALL: He's absent, sir.

So I understand.

He was ill, sir.
With an unknown
disease, sir.

His father's taken him
to Jamaica, sir.

To recover, sir.

And when he has,
he'll come back, sir.

And that's why his name's
still on the list, sir.
Yes, thank you.

Jamaica's in
the Caribbean, sir.

Yes, Cuthbun,
I do know that.

Have you ever
been there, sir?
No, I haven't, no.

Mr. Pelham went
there once, sir.
Twice.

No, once, the other
time was Trinidad.

He went to Jamaica the time
he went to Trinidad as well.

No, he didn't.
(ALL ARGUING)

All right, quiet.

It's all very interesting,
but it's not very much
to the point.

We've got history this period,
let's see if we can try and
find out how far you've got.

(STUDENT YELLING)

Who's that?
(STUDENTS LAUGHING)

You, you, what's your name?

Wittering, sir.
STUDENT 1: Wet Wittering, sir.

EBONY: Quiet.

Come out here,
Wittering.

Mr. Pelham always called
him Wet Wittering, sir.
Quiet.

Why did you make
all that noise?
Sir, I was jabbed, sir.

Jabbed?

With a compass, sir.
Who jabbed you?

I don't know, sir.

All right, go on,
get back to your place.
Yes, sir.

And wipe the ink
off your chin.
Yes, sir.

Now look, if there's any
more fooling about,

there'll be trouble,
all right?

Right.

McMorrow and Purdie,
get them out, please,
chapter nine.

All right, all right.

Now, has anybody
read this chapter?
Yes, sir.

Well, you can tell
us about it.

Oh, it's not me, sir, it's,
uh, Cuthbun that's read it.

BUNGABINE: He's read
the lot, sir.

TRIMBLE: Yes, sir,
the whole book.

Well, now we can
all read it.

Now it's about the, uh,

beginning of the
effective rule by
the British in India...

What are you doing,
Aggeridge?

Opening a window, sir.

Well, you can
shut it again.

But Mr. Pelham said it's
bad for our lungs to work
in a stuffy atmosphere, sir.

STUDENT 4: And Aggeridge has
to have good lungs, sir,
he's in the second fifteen.

Shut that window
and sit down.

Right,

it's about the, uh,
rule of the British
in India,

after the defeat of
the French at...
(STUDENTS LAUGHING)

Pondicherry.

Wittering, from the top
of the chapter, you begin
reading for us.

"In the short period,
1765-7 of Clive's
governorship, he was...

(STAMMERING)
"He prohibited..."

Excuse me, sir,
I'm afraid this
is a mistake.

Mr. Pelham never put
Wittering on to read, sir,
he said life was too short.

Mr. Pelham's life
was too short.
(ALL LAUGHING)

Quiet!

Now look, I don't want
to crack the whip on our
first morning together,

but, if I have to,
I will. Now no more
interruptions.

But, sir.
Did you hear me?

But, please, sir,
Mr. Pelham always
said that...

I don't care what
Mr. Pelham always said.
ALL: Ohh, sir!

Now look here,

I realize that Mr. Pelham's
death must have been
a great shock to you,

but life must go on
and there's work
to be done.

So, unless we finish this
chapter by the end of
this period,

then you all stay in
on Saturday afternoon
and finish it.

But, sir, Saturday's
a half holiday.
Yes, Terhew.

And there's a second
fifteen match.

Yes, Aggeridge, so please
continue reading where
Wittering left off.

"He prohibited the acceptance
of gifts by officials to
augment their salaries.

"These reforms were strongly
opposed, both in England
and in India,

"and the antipathy to Clive
arising..."

"...by a discontented native.
These charges were never heard
as the native was sentenced to

"death by the Chief Justice
for other criminal offenses.

"Many people felt that
this case had been

(MUTTERING)

"trumped up to save Hastings
embarrassment in
his position as governor,

"but it is extremely unlikely
that such..."
Who's that muttering?

Me, sir.

He can't help it, sir.
He says "hypotenuse"
all the time, sir.

He likes the word.
Mr. Pelham said he was
hypotenused by it, sir.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Stop it!

Very well,
you've had ample warning,

this form will be kept in
on Saturday afternoon
from 2:30.

It's not a good idea, sir.

Why is that, Cloistermouth?
Mr. Pelham tried it once,
sir.

The week before last.
And that's why we killed
him, sir.

Cloistermouth.

Sir?

Take this note
to the Headmaster.

Now, sir?

At once.

What does it say, sir?

That you've been
insolent.

But I haven't, sir,
only truthful.

ALL: That's right, sir.
Go on,
Cloistermouth.

No, sir.

Then I shall fetch
the Headmaster here.

You'll look an
awful fool, sir.

Get out! Get out!

If you hit me,
sir, there'll be
a terrific row, sir.

TERHEW: Form masters aren't
allowed to hit us.

CUTHBUN: You'll be sacked.

AGGERIDGE: And after all,
he was telling the truth.

I always do, sir.

Honestly, sir.

Very well, Cloistermouth,

if you say so. Sit down.

Perhaps you'd care to
tell us exactly how you
killed Mr. Pelham.

Will you really be
keeping us in, sir,
on Saturday?

Yes.

(BELL RINGING)

All right, don't
rush, don't rush.

Cliff rescue next period,
sir, we have to get
changed.

The Sergeant
gets very angry
if we're late, sir.

SERGEANT: Come on, you lads,
hurry along there.

You're late already.

You three, form a line here.
You four, get the kits.

The rest of you
fall in line here.

Are they ready?

ALL: Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Right,
are we ready?

ALL: Yes, sir.

Well, let's move.

Come along, get mobile.

Hurry along there.

Come on, come on,
get a move on.

Hello, sir.

EBONY: Hello!
Watch this, sir.

LIPSTROB: We did
kill him, you know.

What are you
doing here?

AGGERIDGE:
Cliff rescue, sir,
we do it every week.

Yes, I know,
but where's
your instructor?

CUTHBUN: He's having
a crafty snout.

CLOISTERMOUTH: He's
a slave of habit, sir.

Mr. Pelham was a
slave of habit too.

Every single evening
he used to come up
here for his walk.

CLOISTERMOUTH: So, the day
after he'd kept us in,
we waited for him.

TERHEW: Six of us
around these rocks.

CLOISTERMOUTH:
He came up quite slowly
at first, panting a bit.

TERHEW: And he paused
at the top and took
out his handkerchief.

CLOISTERMOUTH: And then,
we came out from behind
the rocks all round him.

TERHEW: He started
to say something.

LIPSTROB: But we
rushed him and
got him on the ground.

AGGERIDGE: Rugger tackle.

CLOISTERMOUTH:
His specs came off and
he started lashing out.

BUNGABINE: So we hit him on
the head with a stone.
ORRIS: K.O.

LIPSTROB: Godoing!

TERHEW: Then we carried
him to the edge and
chucked him over.

BUNGABINE:
One, two, three and away.

CLOISTERMOUTH: And there
was blood on the stone,
so we chucked that over too.

Nobody saw us.

The perfect crime.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

Come on, you lot.
Break's over now,
back to work.

Come on, get
your fingers out.

(CHATTERING)

Here's your Telegraph .

Ah, thank you.
Excuse me.

Excuse me, Harry.

Hello, how's the new boy?

Fine.
Very preoccupied today.

Lower Five B getting
you down already?

No, not at all.

EBONY: Right,
English Literature.

Take out your poetry
books, please.

Just before we begin,

I'd like to say it
wouldn't have been the
perfect crime, you know.

Why not, sir?

Well, because if you
had done it...

But, sir,
we did do it.
We did, sir.

Well, then you would
have spoiled it all
by telling me.

Your vanity would
have given you away.

But, we have
told you, sir.

Yes, but then I would
have told the police
if I'd believed you,

through the
Headmaster,
of course.

That wouldn't do you
any good, sir,

you wouldn't know which
one of us had done it.

Oh, I'm quite sure
the police would
have found that out.

They would have got
you one by one and
questioned you.

We've all got alibis, sir.

Yes, sir, we really have.
I was in the chapel with
Unman and Muffett

polishing the
candle-sticks.

Weren't we?
Yes, sir.

Terhew and I were having
tea in Orris's study.

Aggeridge, Root and
Trimble were playing
cards with me.

I was at the range with
Borby and Ankerton,
cleaning the rifles.

And Hogg, Munn and me
were doing detention.

In short, sir, there are
at least two witnesses for
every member of the form.

(DOOR OPENS)

Er, sit down,
boys, sit down.

Good afternoon,
Headmaster.

Er, carry on, Mr. Ebony,
take no heed of me.

Yes.

"So all day long
the noise of battle rolled,

"among the mountains
by the winter sea.

"Until King Arthur's table,
man by man,
had fallen in Lyonesse

"about their Lord,
King Arthur.

"Then, because his wound
was deep, the bold
Sir Bedivere uplifted him,

"And bore him a chapel
nigh the field.

"A broken chancel
with a broken cross

"that stood on a dark
straight of barren land.

"On one side lay the ocean,
and on one lay a great water.

"And the moon was full.

"Then spake King Arthur
to Sir Bedivere,

"the sequel of today unsolders
all the goodliest..."

Thank you very much.
My pleasure.
Take care now.

All right.

Good evening.

UNMAN: Good evening.
LIPSTROB: Good evening.

It's Mrs. Ebony,
isn't it?

Well, yes, it is.

We're from Lower Five B,
your husband's form.

Oh, really? How nice.
I'll tell him I met you.

Well, good night.
Good night.

Look at that.

That can't be bad,
can it?

(ALL CHUCKLING)

Hey, she looked round.

SILVIA: John?

Yes.

Mmm, it's beginning
to look quite good.

Where've you been?

Trying to get some
furniture. I found a
marvelous junk shop.

Oh, I got a lift
back from the town.

Oh, really?

You know we're out
of paint, do you?

Yeah, I've ordered
some from the town.

I saw some of
your boys on the path.

Really? What
were they doing?

Nothing.
They're very friendly.

Well, they were supposed
to be doing some work
for tomorrow.

Doesn't look
too bad, does it?

Tell me about your day.

Nothing much to tell.
Nothing to tell?
On your first day?

What did you teach?
History, Latin, English.

Mmm, sounds a lot.
Did you manage all right?

Yes, I suppose so.
Listen, let's go out
for a drink, shall we?

Oh, no. I saw enough
of that blasted town
for one day.

Well, I have been
stuck with bloody boys
all day long.

I could do with
some life right now.

Well, I'm for early bed,

but if you want to
go out for some life,

I'll leave some
food out for
when you get back.

All right.
I shan't be late.

Too right you won't.
They close at
10:00 p.m. round here.

(CHATTERING)

Ah, you soon found your
way to the right place.
What'll you have?

A pint of bitter, please.

I'm glad to see you.
We can battle against
the wind together.

Bunny, please.
What wind?

The merciless wind of success
that whistles through
the corridors of Chantry.

Yes, sir?
Two pints, please, Bunny.

Tell me, Mr. Pelham,
what was he like?

He was a failure,

like us.

Oh, a delayed failure,
had quite a strong
flavor of success about him.

Didn't bear too
close inspection, though.

I'm a connoisseur
of failure.

Ah!

I can smell it.

And he fell off a cliff?

Yes.

What about the police?
Didn't they make
any inquiries?

I suppose so.

What do you mean,
you suppose so?

Well, presumably
somebody said, er,
"Where's Pelham?"

Somebody else
said, "Oh, fallen
off a cliff". Why?

The obvious
answer is fog.

Well, didn't the Headmaster
ask around the school
amongst the boys?

John, you're so
simple minded.

It's not just done
for a schoolmaster
to die in term time.

What do you think
the holidays are for?

(ALARM BELL RINGING)

(ALARM STOPS)

(GROANS)

Mmm, 7:30.

Oh, oh.

Much too early.

Morning, darling.

Oi! Oi! Come on,
I'll be late.

You're very hearty.

Fighting fit.
Oh.

My form played me up
yesterday, I'm gonna
sort them out today.

Then you'll need
a good breakfast.

Oh, I wish I was
a French master.

Why?

They all have
beards, no shaving.

The French arrange their
lives very intelligently,
in every way.

How do you know?

I knew a Frenchman once.
Who? Where? In London?

Before your time, love.
Anyway, you'd better get
a move on or you'll be late.

Muffett.
Here, sir.

Munn?
Here, sir.

Orris?
Sir.

Root?
Here, sir.

Sir.Terhew?

Trimble?
Here, sir.

Unman?
Here, sir.

Wittering?
Here, sir.

And Zigo, absent, sir.

Root?
Yes, sir.

Write out the form list
twenty five times,

and bring it to me first
thing tomorrow morning.

Yes, sir.

Anybody else got
anything to say?

Good morning, sir.

Morning, Cuthbun.

We all hope you settled
comfortably into your cottage,

and your wife
cooked you a nice
breakfast this morning.

Thank you, Cuthbun,
that's very civil of you.

Double Latin period,
I believe. Aggeridge,
wipe the board.

Cloistermouth, clean up
that basket over there.

Yes, sir.

Give these out.

Right, test paper
of 10 sentences.

Names and date
in top right hand
corner, please.

One, ready Aggeridge?
Sir.

Cloistermouth?
Sir.

My mother

went to Padua,

where she saw

her uncle.

Bungabine.
Sir?

Why are you looking
at Terhew's paper?

Because I shan't get any
marks if I don't, sir.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Shh!

Come out here, Bungabine.

Take your hands
out of your pockets.

Now, listen to
me, all of you.

Now, I've tried very hard
to make myself plain,

but, it seems you are
slow to take my point.

Now, it was my
first day yesterday

and you all had
a great deal of fun
at my expense.

But I'm not going
to put up with
idleness or insolence,

and when these occur,
they'll be punished.

Please, sir, would you
look in your desk?

Be quiet, Cloistermouth.
But there's something for
you, sir, a parcel.

If this is another joke,
you'll be in serious trouble.

Oh, it's not
a joke, sir.

It's Mr. Pelham's
wallet, sir.

With an old photograph.
Of a girl, sir.

LIPSTROB: Phwoar!
Quiet!

You can see the
bloodstains, sir.

Where did you find this?

It fell out of his pocket
as we were carrying him
to the edge of the cliff, sir.

There was £2.10 in it,
but we spent that.

On cupcakes.

Go and sit down,
Bungabine.

You'll all stay here
and keep quiet.

Aggeridge,
you're in charge.

CUTHBUN: Where are
you going, sir?

To see the Headmaster.

(LAUGHTER)

Now, now, boys,
pay attention!

LIPSTROB: Come on,
next sentence.

CLOISTERMOUTH:
Come on, Aggeridge.

Ahh...

Two. When the king
went away...

ORRIS: The young queen
enjoyed the services
of his black slaves.

(LAUGHTER)

CLOISTERMOUTH:
Wittering's laughing.

Well, I was only laughing...

LIPSTROB: Now he's talking.
Who said you could talk?

AGGERIDGE:
Shut up, Wittering.

TERHEW: Who's the wettest
man at Chantry?

UNMAN: Answer him, Wittering.

TRIMBLE: You know the answer.
CUTHBUN: Stand up, Wittering.

AGGERIDGE: Come out here
and write on the board.

Wittering is a wet.

(KNOCKING)

Yes?

Headmaster?

Yes, Mr. Ebony?

Um, excuse me,
Headmaster.

I thought you ought
to see this, it's, er,
Mr. Pelham's wallet.

Mr. Pelham?

Yes, I, I found
it in his desk.

Well, I'll see that
it's forwarded to
his next of kin.

But I really don't think you
need have left your form
in the middle of a period.

It was in his pocket
when he was killed.

It is a practice which
we deprecate here,

every period should
be worked through,
whatever happens.

Well, there are
bloodstains on it.

Bloodstains, Mr. Ebony?

Well, I wondered if the
police should see it?

MASTER OUTSIDE: Come along,
hurry along boys. Take your
hands out of your pockets.

The death of a master
in term time, Ebony,

is a matter which has to
be treated with the
greatest possible delicacy.

Now, boys are
hysterical creatures.

They are easily upset,
but, at the same time,

they love to dwell on the
details of violent death.

Now, this has been a most
unfortunate accident

and candidly,
I think the less said
about it the better.

But, supposing it
wasn't an accident?

I think perhaps Lower Five B
have been left to their own
devices long enough.

I...
Now, discourage

any discussion
of the matter,
there's a good fellow.

Oh, and er, Ebony,

I wonder if you and your
wife would care to come
to dinner on Sunday?

Er, after chapel.
I expect I shall
see you there.

Thank you, Headmaster.

Places, men.

Aggeridge!
I left you in charge.
What is all this noise?

We were playing
with Wittering, sir.

Go and sit down.

What did the
Headmaster say, sir?

ORRIS: I think the less
said about it, the better,
Mr. Ebony.

He didn't believe you,
did he, sir?

He's dealing with
the matter himself.

I don't think
he's told him.

TERHEW: He knows
we'd just say that he
was talking nonsense.

CLOISTERMOUTH: That he'd
made it up himself.
Hysterical.

But you do believe us,
don't you, sir?

'Course he does.

If he doesn't, we'll
show him the shoe.

Mr. Pelham's shoe, sir.

It came off
in the struggle.

When he was kicking.
He wouldn't lie still, sir.

There's a bit of blood
on that too.

Stop this! Stop it!

He's hysterical.
Haw, haw, haw...

Shut up, Bungabine!

Now, sir, hadn't
we better work out
a modus vivendi.

What?

A way of life, sir.

After all, there's no
reason why we shouldn't
peacefully co-exist.

And you don't want to be
sacked from your very
first job now, do you, sir?

No, he wants us to
be a credit to him.

And we will be, sir,
we really will be.

AGGERIDGE:
It's better that way, sir.

There'd be no fun
in ragging you, now
that we've got you fixed.

Do you think
that you have?

Oh, we know we have.

Where's Mr. Farthingale?

In the craft room, sir.

Cary? Cary, I've got
to talk to you.

Oh, really?
(BELL RINGS)

Ah, lunch time.

Oh, really, I've
got to tell someone.

And I, being of no
importance, am the one
to tell, right?

At least you'll listen.

Well?

My form, Lower Five B,

say they murdered
Mr. Pelham.

(CHUCKLING)
Oh, splendid. Splendid.

Thing is,
I think they did.

Better and better.
How?

Well, he didn't fall.

They attacked him
on top of the cliff
and threw him over.

Did they indeed?

You think I'm
a fool, don't you?

Look, it was
just the way that
they told me.

(KNOCKING)

BOY: Can I lock up now, sir?

Yes, all right.

Yes, okay.

Come on, let's go
somewhere else.

So, what are you
going to do?

Try and find the
ringleader and
break him down.

And how are you
going to do that?

I don't know.

Play along with them
for the moment.

What shakes me is
the fact that they
all work together.

And yet, they're highly
individual.

(GUNSHOT)

What the devil was that?

It's probably one or two
of the boys practicing
on the rifle range.

It's just through here,
come on, I'll show you.

(GUNSHOTS)

Hello, sir.
Hello, sir.

Are you allowed to
fire those things without
an instructor?

Terhew's in the school
shooting eight, sir,

he's got permission
to take us by himself.

The Headmaster trusts
him, you see, sir.

Would you like a go, sir?

No, thank you,
not just at the moment.

(GUNSHOT)

(DOOR OPENING)

Hello, darling.

Your meal was ready
at 6:00 p.m. and is
now stone cold

'cause you were out
drinking yourself stupid.

Sorry, darling, I had
something on my mind.

Hmm, about two bottles of
it, to judge by the smell.

Come on, Silvia.

There's something I want
to talk to you about.

Why not wait until
you're completely sober?

Because it's not the kind
of thing a man can
explain without a drink.

You know Pelham?
No, I don't know Pelham.

Yes, you do, he's my
predecessor, he,
he lived here before us.

All right, all right,
get on with it, what
about Pelham?

Well, he didn't just
fall off that cliff.

No?

No, he was thrown off.
Pushed on purpose.

Oh, for Christ's sake, John!
It's true. The boys did it.

They told me,
that's how I know.

The boys told you.

They even showed me
a wallet which fell
out of his pocket.

They showed you
a wallet which fell
out of his pocket.

So, you went straight
out and drank your
stupid head off

because some
nasty boys pulled
your idiotic leg.

Do try not to be
a bigger bloody fool
than God made you.

Now, you'd better
try and eat some food
though it's probably horrible.

I was hoping for
a little sympathy.

I mean, they had alibis
and everything, it...

If you mention Pelham
just once more,
I shall scream.

Don't know why I bother.

Have you seen my chemistry
book? I left it on the
table here last night.

I put all your books
in the desk.

Where?
In the desk.

Oh, come on, Sylvia,
it's not here. I've got
chemistry tomorrow,

I've got to prepare for it.

In the bottom bit.

What the bloody hell's this?
What?

Shoe.

This, uh...

Modus vivendi.

What exactly do you
have in mind?

For a start, sir, there's
to be no question of
keeping us in on Saturday,

or exacting any other
punishments due.

Now the next thing.
We propose to do
a minimum of work.

(CHUCKLES)
Now you have surprised me.

There are six
of us in this form
with brains, sir,

and we all intend to get
university scholarships
in due course.

So, we need your help.
But only for half
of each period.

We can pick it all up
in that time.

What about the others?

They'll be all right,
sir. They'll just read
or play cards quietly.

They aren't interested
in learning, you see.

So I've noticed.

And what happens in six weeks'
time when the end of term
exams take place?

You'll be correcting
the papers, sir.

We'll work out suitable
marks for everyone, sir.

Nothing flashy, sir.
Just what you'd expect.

Only a bit better.
(ALL CHUCKLE)

And what do you propose
to do with the other half
of our time together?

Make money, sir.

Oh, yes?

What are you gonna do,
take up alchemy?

Trimble will explain.

It's very simple,
really, sir.

We each put 10 shillings
into a pool,
eight quid in all.

We back the favorite
in every race at
10 shillings to win,

and five outsiders at
10 shillings each way.

At reasonable odds,
of course.

Your father a bookmaker,
Trimble?

No, sir.
He's an Archdeacon.

Well, if he had been, he'd
have told you that no system
ever wins in the long run.

We'll be content with
a comparatively small
return on a large stake.

TRIMBLE: It's going for the
long odds that busts them.

And who's going to
take your bets?

Joe McIver, he's the
bookmaker in the town.

Of course, you'll
actually place them.

We've been using the school
sergeant, but you can only
trust him with small stuff.

Oh, that's too bad.
Well, you can trust me.

Oh, yes, sir.
You help us, we help you.

To make a good
impression, of course.

TERHEW:
Collective security, sir.

TRIMBLE: This is a close one.

MUFFETT: Hot Foot won
at Lingfield last month, look.

ROOT: Yes, but over
a shorter distance.

TRIMBLE: And the
going was firm.

MUFFETT: What about it?
Well, there was rain
at Newmarket last night.

That's right.

Ha! How about Lady Lou?
She likes it soft.

Hot Foot was an Oaks winner.
Oh...

That could mean anything.
Lady Lou was placed
last time out.

Mmm, yeah, Lady Lou.
Okay, then, Lady Lou each way.

TRIMBLE: Have I got
everybody's money?

ROOT: You've got mine.
ANKERTON: You
got mine, yeah?

ROOT: Yeah, that's mine.

TRIMBLE: Here you are, sir.

The list of bets and,
uh, eight quid.

You'll get it on straight
away, won't you, sir?

Remember, Joe McIver
in Platt Lane.

One of us will be in the
gym to collect the money
at 7:50 this evening.

Two of us.
All right,
you and Lippers.

(BELL RINGING)

Cloistermouth.

Come on, let's go.

Cloistermouth.
Sir.

Come here.

It's all right,
it's all right,
I only want a word.

Yes, sir?

Who's idea was it?

I don't know, sir.

A few of us were talking
and Trimble told us how
he went to a race meeting

in the holidays,
and won £5.

Now, you know
I don't mean that.
I mean the other thing.

The other thing, sir?

Mr. Pelham.

Well, I suppose
it was his father's idea
in the first place,

you know, a twinkle in
his father's eye.
Don't be funny.

I mean, who first thought
of killing Mr. Pelham?

I don't know, sir.

Well, somebody must
have thought of it.
I suppose so, sir.

A sort of a ringleader.
Perhaps.

Someone you're afraid of?

Afraid, sir?

Look, all you have to do
is just to give me his name

and you'll never
have to see him again.
(BOYS CHATTERING)

Sir?
Yes?

Don't you feel squalid
when you talk like that?

COACH: All right, lads,
get your gear off and
get in the showers.

Look, you listen to me.
I'm sorry, sir, I've got
to get to the library

before it closes for lunch.

You won't forget
Terhew and Lipstrob
this evening, sir?

COACH: All right, Beckenham,
in you go. Stevenson, you too.

(GRUNTS)

That's enough.
(PANTING)

How long have we got?

About five minutes.

We told him 7:50.

I've been late twice
already this month.

If I'm late again,
I get a bumming.

Well, you go,
I'll be all right.

No, I'll hang about
a couple of minutes.

Hey, Aggeridge
told me this one.

There was this man at
the back of the stalls

and he was going...
(GROANS)

So, this usherette came
up to him and said

"Excuse me, sir,
you're only allowed
to have one seat."

So he said...
(GROANS)
(LAUGHS)

So she said,
"Well, I'll have to go
and get the manager."

So the manager came and said,
"Excuse me, sir, you're only
allowed to have one seat."

So, he said...
(GROANS)
(LAUGHS)

So, he said,
"Well, I'll have to go
and get a policeman."

The policeman comes in,

grabs hold of the man by
the scruff of the neck,

bangs his head
against the wall,

and says, "Now,
where are you from?"

And the man goes...

(GROANING) "The balcony."
(BOTH LAUGH)

You're late, sir.

I was standing there,
watching you.

Uh, that's £21.60,
sir, including
the stake money.

Yes.

There you are.

That's a profit
of £13.60.

Here you are, sir.

What's this?
Uh, 68 pence, sir,
a 5% commission.

(CHUCKLES)

No thanks.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

Two minute bell. I'm off.
No time to argue, sir.

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

SILVIA: What time is it?

8:30.

Oh, thank God it's Sunday.

What shall I wear
for chapel tonight?

Something modest.

How boring.

Something smart,
but not too revealing.

Your hair's wet.

You mind?

(MOANS)

* Thou who art
beyond the farthest

* Mortal eye can scan

* Can it be that
Thou regardest

* Songs of sinful man?

* Can we know
that Thou art near us

* And wilt hear us?

* Yes we can

* In Thy house
great God we offer

* All of Thine own to Thee

* And for Thine
acceptance proffer

* All unworthily

* Hearts and minds
and hands and voices

* In our choicest psalmody

* Honor, glory,
might and merit

* Thine shall ever be

* Father, son
and holy spirit

* Blessed trinity

* Of the best that
Thou hast given

* Earth and Heaven

* Render Thee

MINISTER: As an aid to
our worship this evening,

the choir will now sing,
God Be In My Head and
In My Understanding .

* God be in my head

* And in my understanding

What a lovely voice.
Who is it?

It's Wittering,
the one they all bully.

What a shame.
Shh.

* God be in my mouth

* And in my speaking

* God be in my heart

Who's that?

Who?
The dark one
smiling over there.

Oh, that's, uh,
Cloistermouth.

One of your assassins,
I suppose.

* God be at mine end

* And at my

* Departing

I'm sure it has.
Has it?

HEADMASTER:
Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Ebony,
Mr. and Mrs. Winstanley.

Oh, of course,
you and Winstanley
already know each other.

How do you do?

We've said hello,
but I don't think we've,
uh, actually spoken.

We haven't.

No.

Uh, is your husband
a master here, too,
Mrs. Winstanley?

He's the senior classics.

Oh, how interesting.
What's that?

He's in charge of
Latin and Greek.

He's been here
32 years.

How...
How interesting.

Sherry?
Mrs. Ebony?
Thank you.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Oh, uh, excuse me.

What did you think
of the choir tonight?

Not bad. Uh,
Wittering can sing.

And he looked adorable.

HEADMASTER: Thank you.
12:15 would suit me admirably.

A very nice anthem,
I thought.
HEADMASTER: Very well.

I noticed something
I didn't like.

The lectern's been moved.

Oh, well, well, I,
I wouldn't know.

Harry always notices if
anything's out of place.

Ah!
Thank you, Headmaster.

I appear to have
miscalculated.

I hear you and your
husband are living
in the old cottage.

Yes. It's a bit grim,
isn't it?

I mean,
being there all day.

I'm thinking about
getting a job.

I think we'll soon
get the cottage
fixed up, then...

Just working in
a boutique or something.

That was what I was
doing when I met John.

Uh, sherry,
Winstanley? At last.
Oh, thank you.

Uh, it's quite possible the
Bursar might be glad of some,
uh, secretarial help.

What a good idea.

Yes, I'll speak
to him about it.

SILVIA: What do you mean,
my fault?

Jibbering on about
bloody boutiques and
God knows what else.

Why couldn't
you just fit in?
I tried.

But they were
so pompous.

Anyway, why shouldn't
I talk about boutiques?

Because we both want
me to keep this job.

But, if it means being a
hypocrite, there's not
much point in keeping it.

Anyway, it happens
to be my profession.

Well, perhaps you've
chosen the wrong
profession for your wife.

What do you mean by that?

You knew I wanted to teach.
You knew that when
we got married.

There was a hell of a lot
I didn't know, and I've
learned a lot more since.

Such as?
Well, teaching is
like marriage.

It's not knowing
the answers,

but knowing where
to look for them.

And you're not much
good at either.

CLOISTERMOUTH:
"A trumpeter was sent..."

See his wife in chapel?
He ought to bring her here.

(BOTH LAUGH)

"...to tell them that
if they surrendered,

"their lives would be saved.

"But..."
Spared.

Spared.

"But if they resisted,

"their menfolk
would be killed..."

(WHISPERING)
(LAUGHING)

Stop them for Heaven's
sake, somebody.

Terhew.

Shut up, Unman.

It wasn't me.
Shut up, the lot of you.

Oh ho!

Ignorant vermin.

You've got to check
the form for tomorrow
at Worcester.

Two possibles
for every race.
So get on with it.

Oh, by the way, sir, your
commission from Saturday,
I've put it in your desk.

Well, as far
as I'm concerned,
it can stay there.

But, sir, we only want to
express our appreciation.

I forgot to tell you, sir,
there's a note from the
Headmaster on your desk.

Thank you.
It's underneath the
register, sir.

TRIMBLE: He wants to
see you this afternoon.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

Bumming for you, sir.

(ALL LAUGH)

Be quiet.

Orris, your turn.

ORRIS: "The soldiers,
having formed a tortoise
with their shields,

"advanced upon the walls."

EBONY: Come in.

Uh, here you are,
sir, bets for
tomorrow's meeting,

so you've got
plenty of time
to get them on.

Just a moment, Terhew.

Uh, morning
break now, sir.

You'll get your
morning break.

The other boys trust you,
don't they?

Let me out please, sir.

You didn't want to kill
Mr. Pelham, did you?

Let me out.

Who thought it up?

Cuthbun?
Nobody.

Trimble? Lipstrob?
Now look, get away from
that door or I'll make you.

Oh, I don't think you
can, not alone.

I will hurt you in a moment.

Remember what happened
to Mr. Pelham.

You won't get away with
that again.

Oh, we wouldn't go for
you, you're not the same
as him, are you?

No, I'm younger and stronger.

And you've got a wife.

You little bastard.

Any more and I'll have
you in the Sunday papers.

Get out! Get out!

You'd better not
do that again.

Not to any of us.

HEADMASTER: So there you
have it, Mr. Ebony.

Now, of course you
understand there's
nothing personal in this.

No, no, of course not.

Now the plain fact is that
we always like to have Old
Chantronians on the staff.

And as we now know that
Johnathan Grimwit is
available next term,

we felt that we should
take the opportunity to
secure his services.

But we greatly appreciate the
way you were prepared to come
to us at a moment's notice.

Thank you.

HEADMASTER: I thought
I'd better tell you
in plenty of time,

so that you can plan ahead.

Yes, it's very kind of you.

Of course, you'll stay
till the end of this term,

when your, uh,
salary is payable.

Uh, have you tried
this agency?
I'm told they're very good.

Preparatory schools are
their specialty.

Just refer them to me.
I'll look forward to giving
you an excellent reference.

(LAUGHS)
Prep school. I can just
picture the interview.

You'll tell them, of course,
that there was never any
question of

your staying on at Chantry.

They'll say, "You're just the
man for the job," they'll say.

"We want you to take over
Form Three.

"The boys are a bit difficult,
but given the right treatment

"they might just be
no problem at all."
(LAUGHS)

But I shan't go.

I'm fed up with
teaching anyway.
I shall change my job.

Oh, no, not again,
not this time.

Going to join the
Foreign bloody Legion.
(LAUGHS)

It's just the same as here.

Oh, I don't know...

I don't know about anything.

I don't care.
That's the spirit.

I am indifferent.

I simply don't care
about anything anymore.

That's right, be proud
of it, like me.

I'm as happy as
a pissed lark.

BOTH: Tweet, tweet.
(BOTH LAUGH)

EBONY: Borby.
Sir.

Bungabine.
Sir.

Cloistermouth.
Sir.

He doesn't look very bright
this morning, does he?

Hogg.
Here, sir.

Okay, at six o'clock.

Lipstrob.
Sir.

Too much whiskey last night.

Too much of something.
Where's that book?
Oh, yeah.

Orris.
Sir.

Root.
Here, sir.

Terhew.
Sir.

Trimble.
Here, sir.

Unman.
Here, sir.

Wittering.
Here, sir.

By the way, Terhew,
I haven't placed those bets.

Oh, you can do it at
lunchtime, sir.

No, I can't.

Here's the money.

But, sir, that was part
of our modus vivendi.

Yours, not mine.

It's yours too, sir.

Frankly, the point's
not worth arguing.

What about teaching
Mr. Ebony a little lesson?

Good idea.

Aggeridge, the door.

Come on then, Lippers.

You're welcome to try.

You'll be had up.

And you'll be
knocked cold.

And you.

You don't want to forget
what I said yesterday.

I haven't forgotten.

I meant it.

So do I.

Come on,
you two, sit down,
we're wasting time.

Let's get on
with the period.

History, sir, it's time
we had a test paper.

EBONY: So, get on with it.

Oh, no, sir, you
have to give it to us.

EBONY: I can't be bothered.

He's knackered after
all that whisky.

Or something.

Are you on strike, sir?

No, I just can't
be bothered
with you anymore.

So what are you
going to do?

Sit here.

Please, sir, can I
be excused?

And us?

EBONY: Please yourselves.

CLOISTERMOUTH: You'll be
sacked if the Head comes in.

BUNGABINE: Please, sir.
I'm sacked already.

So that's why he had to
go and see him yesterday.

He's taking it all out on us.

It's not fair.

Please, sir, please!
Stale joke, Bungabine.

Shut your Cloistermouth.

(BOYS LAUGH)

Wittering, do you
find this funny?

No.

You've been told not to
speak until you've asked
for permission.

Now stop giggling.

Are you deaf?

You silly twit!

Get out front!

Oh, dear,
Wittering's fallen over.
(BOYS LAUGH)

You tripped me.

Get up!

Pull him up.

No, no, not like that.
Put him down again,
come on.

Now, up again.

And down again.

(BOYS CHEERING)

(CHANTING) And up...

And down, and up!

Up, down, up, down!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

You must have felt
like a Roman emperor.

I felt just like
I wasn't even here.

As though they
were on the other
side of the window.

Have you decided
what to do?
No.

Well, one thing,
you'll soon find
the ring leader.

Why?

Because if you sit tight,
he'll have to lead them.

Actually, I was, er,
thinking of going out
for a meal tonight.

How do you feel?
Do you want to come?

Mmm, very good idea.

Let's, erm, have
a quickie first

and then we'll shoot
down into town.

Okay.

Come on then, Lippers.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Oh, hello.
Hello, Mrs. Ebony.

My husband's out at the moment
but he'll be back in a minute.
Oh.

Well, come in
and wait for him.
Thank you.

In there.

Well, sit down, make
yourselves comfortable.

I'm afraid I'm in
rather a hurry,

I've got to get
off to work.

TERHEW: We don't want
to interrupt anything.
Oh, that's all right.

Do you think
he'll come back?
No, why should he?

What's your name?

Lipstrob.

Oh, I can't call you that.
Have you got another?

Stanley.

And yours?
Terhew, John.

Oh, my husband's
called John.

I know.

Do you smoke?

No, thank you.
Yes, please.

I don't suppose you get
much chance to do this
up at the school.

No, we, we don't.

Thank you.

Do you usually call
on masters at home?
Oh, do sit.

No, no, not usually.

Oh, it must be very
important then?

In a way, but then
it wasn't exactly him
we wanted to see.

Well, there's
no one else here
except me.

That's right.

Well, we did want
to see him, in a way.

Look, I've got to
go in a minute.

Oh, well, we'd, er,
better push off then,
hadn't we?

Oh, but you can
wait here if you like.

No, it's okay...
No, no, we must go, really.

We'll get
into trouble
if we don't.

Well, I wouldn't
want that.

Well, can I take
a message for him?

No, it doesn't matter.
We'll see him
in the morning.

Are you sure?
Yes.

Mrs. Ebony.
Yes, John?

Oh, nothing.

Come on,
we'd better leave.

What a dangerous
looking thing.

Sorry.
Well, haven't you got
anything to put it in?

Yes, I have somewhere.

Er, we must go.
Are you sure?

Yes.
Oh, well.

Bye.
Bye, boys.

Are they still in there?

Yes. How did it go?
Never mind.

Where are the
others?

In the common room.

Okay, you'd better stay
here, we may have to
think of something else.

(INDISTINCT ARGUING)

FARTHINGALE:
If we go for a meal first,
we'll miss the pubs.

EBONY: Well, we can
come back here
to drink, can't we?

Well, okay, but we'd better
buy a couple of bottles,

because the old booze
cupboard's suffered a bit
since you came.

(LAUGHS)

Go and tell the others
they've gone.
I'll just make sure.

Wittering, come on.

Wait, please.

Ah, God, I'm pissed.

I've got to get back.

We finally sorted the
men out from the boys.

Mrs. Ebony, Mrs. Ebony,
there's been an accident.
Accident?

Your husband in
the squash court.
Squash court?

Look, please come,
he's asking for you.

Well, yes, of course.
Come on,
we'll show you the way.

In here, Mrs. Ebony.

Well, where's John?
Where's my husband?

Drinking his head off.

CUTHBUN: You must
forgive us, Mrs. Ebony,

but, there's something
very important to be said.

We had to make sure
you came.

I, I don't understand.

What are you doing?

What's going on?

Well, it's, it's like
this, Mrs. Ebony.

Like what?

CUTHBUN: Your husband's
not toeing the line.

He's not doing
what we tell him.

Oh, I should hope not.

But if he doesn't...

Something very nasty is
going to happen to him.

LIPSTROB: Or to you.
BUNGABINE: Or to both.

Because, if he
doesn't cooperate...

AGGERIDGE: If he doesn't
do just what he's told...

And stop poking his nose
about where it isn't wanted,

then we shall do to him
what we did to Mr. Pelham.

What you did
to Mr. Pelham?

We killed Pelham,
and we're quite prepared
to kill Ebony.

LIPSTROB: Or you.
BUNGABINE: Or both.

If I believed
a word of this,
I'd go to the police.

Your husband tried that.

He got as far
as the Headmaster,

but he felt so silly
that he came away again.

You see, we've all
got perfect alibis,

100% alibis,
every single one of us.

Well, you won't get
any change out of me.

(BOYS SHOUTING)

(SHRIEKING)

TERHEW: We've got till
tomorrow morning.

Plenty of time to
make you see sense.

You can't intimidate me.

Wittering,
tell her the idea.

We're going to show you
how grown up we can be,

in a very special way.

In a way, you won't want
to tell anyone about.

You won't dare tell anyone.

You'll be so ashamed,

feel so dirty, so disgusted
with what's happened to you.

Well, now that
you've succeeded
in exciting each other,

which one of you men
is going to start?

CUTHBUN: Wittering.

I think Wittering
should start.

LIPSTROB: No, not him.
Why not?

BUNGABINE: Wittering.
That's a laugh.

CLOISTERMOUTH: Yes,
he told her,
now he can show us.

Yes, yes, yes.

(BOYS SHOUTING)

Oh, please stop them,
please, please.

Shut up!

(SCOFFS) He's useless.

(BOYS LAUGHING)

(BOYS SHOUTING)

Hey, Wittering,
where are you going?
Come here!

Look out, the door!

Shut the door!

(SHRIEKS)

(PANTING)

Right, just one more step
and this goes.

LIPSTROB: Come on,
let's get out of here.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(WHIMPERING)

(SOBBING)

(SNIFFLING)

(SNORING)

John.

John.

Bastards!

Christ!

The bastards!

It doesn't
matter now.

At least
I got away.

I mean, it was
all my fault.

I should have listened
to what you told me
about them.

Now we can go to
the Headmaster and have
it all out in the open.

I've tried that already.

He didn't believe me.

But he'll believe you now.

I've been given my notice,
there's another man coming.

SILVIA: Well,
so much the better.
We can leave now.

Just get up and go.

I'll get you some tea.

(BOYS SHOUTING)

Quiet! Quiet!

Now get outside every
single one of you.
Go on, get out!

Get out!

Now I'll tell you.

I'll see that every
single one of you are
thrown out of this school.

Now I mean it.

You've got to help us, sir.

Help you?

Help you, after
what you've done,
you little fuck!

CUTHBUN: It's Wittering,
sir, he's vanished.

What do you mean,
vanished?

He wasn't in the dorm,
sir. No one's seen him
since last night.

Well, try the sick room.

We've already looked, sir,
but he's not there.

We've looked everywhere.
If anything's happened
to him, sir...

We must find him.
If anyone finds him first...

He's bound to
tell them something.

CUTHBUN: You've got
to tell us what to do, sir.

TERHEW: Look, sir, if
Wittering opens his
mouth, he'll tell them.

ANKERTON: He'll tell
them everything.

You must help us, sir.
Please, sir.

John, come on.

Silvia, this may be
my chance to get
at the truth of it all.

Let the Headmaster
deal with it.

He's sacked you,
hasn't he?

Well, my contract
holds good till
the end of the term.

Who cares about that now?

Well, I can't just give up,
for Christ's sake,
I must try.

John, I am leaving now.

Look, Silvia, if I can
just find the culprit,
I know that I...

Why bother?

Because I feel I must.

Must? Why must?

Because I've got to know.

All right.

I'm sorry, John.

It's your choice.

I'll be back
as soon as I can.

TERHEW: Sir? Sir,
please help us, sir.

Wittering, sir.

BOYS: Please help us,
come on, sir.

Don't waste any more
time, please, sir.

Look, sir, if we don't find
him we're all in the shit,
up to here.

It's all right,
I'm coming.

Thank you, sir.
Thank you very much, sir.

What are we going to do?

Right. Terhew,
you take Cloistermouth,
Root, and Borby.

Search the beach.

Take the back road.
Yes, sir.

The rest of you, follow me.
Yes, sir. Right, sir.

Try the other side.

Okay, sir.

Wittering!

Wittering!

Wittering!

Wittering!

Sir!

WITTERING:
"Dear Mummy and Daddy,

"I am going to kill myself

"and I hope you
won't be too sorry.

"It was my idea
to kill Mr. Pelham.

"We all hated him.
He didn't like us either.

"He was always
ordering us about

"and he was very sarcastic
if we didn't do
exactly what he said.

"I thought up this plan
and told the others
in the form.

"I thought that
if I told them
a plan like this,

"they would respect me,
and think of me as
one of them.

"But they didn't.

"They were on at me
worse than ever,

"even with a
new master here.

"Mr. Ebony is no better
than Mr. Pelham really."

"He's frightened
of the Headmaster

"and he's always trying to
show how good he is
at controlling the boys.

"But he can't.

"At night, I keep on dreaming
of the noise the stone made
on Mr. Pelham's head

"when we hit him,

"and the blood.

"He kind of grunted.

"Tonight has been
even more horrible.

"Must close now.

"Pam can have my stamps
if she wants them.

"Love from Basil."

Now you know
whose idea it was.

Yeah.

Perhaps that's
not the question.

How do you mean?

I mean, what
made them do it?

MASTER: Aggeridge.
STUDENT: Here, sir.

Ankerton.
Sir.

Borby.
Sir.

Bungabine.
Here, sir.

Cloistermouth.
Yes, sir.

Cuthbun.
Here, sir.

Hogg.
Sir.

Lipstrob.
Here, sir.

Muffett.
Here, sir.

Munn.
Here, sir.

Orris.
Sir.

Root.
Sir.

Terhew.
Yes, sir.

Trimble.
Yes, sir.

Unman.
Here, sir.

Wittering.
Absent.

Zigo.
Absent, sir.